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House Republicans
submitted 35 ethics proposals to the Joint House/Senate Special
Committee on Ethics, many of which were ultimately included in the
committee's draft bill. Those include:
-
a ban on cash
contributions
-
independent ethics
commission
-
caucuses of the
general assembly must disclose contributions and expenditures
-
1 year revolving door
ban for legislators and cabinet level administration
-
continuous ethics
training for legislators, executive branch officials, lobbyists
-
statement of interest
disclosures for cabinet level administration officials
-
ban on lobbyist gifts,
including wining and dining (except for receptions for the entire
general assembly)
-
aggregate disclosure
of lobbyist expenses, fees
-
employer of lobbyist
disclosure of all lobbying expenses
-
ban lobbyists from
serving on state boards and commissions, including election
commissions
-
ban lobbyist
contingency fees
-
disclosure of
occupation and employer of campaign contributors
-
blackout on PAC
contributions 20 days before an election and increased disclosure
requirements prior to early voting
-
ban campaign
contributions to legislators January 1 through session
-
ban lobbyists giving
campaign contributions
-
increased regulation
of point of sale descriptions for campaign expenditures
Additional Republican
proposals were defeated, primarily along party-lines, by the joint
committee. Those include:
-
full disclosure of all
campaign contributions and expenditures
-
ban on fundraising by
Governor January 1 through session
-
prohibition of
legislators who work for a lobbying firm to discuss legislation
lobbied by that firm
-
required registration
of government employed lobbyists
-
posting of all roll
call votes on the internet
-
recorded subcommittee
meetings
Also, a Republican
proposal to post travel and per diem on the internet was defeated while
information on how to obtain travel expense reports through the office
of legislative administration will be provided on the internet. A
Republican proposal to require open meetings of all legislative
committees was substituted for a version that would make meetings open
only for the 104th General Assembly. Lastly, we were able to
change the composition of the independent ethics commission to include 2
appointments (1 Republican and 1 Democrat) by the Governor, and 2
appointments by each House and Senate Speaker (1 Republican and 1
Democrat each) made from a list of nominees submitted by each
Caucus. All appointments have to be confirmed by a 2/3 vote in the
legislature.
We also expect further
discussion on a proposal to prohibit a legislator voting on issues that
would directly and individually benefit him/her as a single legislator
and on the Republican proposal to make PACs and individuals equal in
their ability to contribute to campaigns.
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